Boats, Buses, and Metros, Oh My!

Cou cou a tous!

So yesterday I accompanied Elodie's class on their field trip. We drove for about a half an hour to this large lake which reminded me of Marsh Creek, except it was absolutely freezing. I don't know how the kids did it; I would have been the one who was crying, afraid of falling into the frigid waters. They were all very very cute though. A few of the girls kept asking me questions, but besides that I just watched them all interact to see who is the trouble maker, class clown, shy kid, etc.
It was a very cool field trip nonetheless.

Today, I tried to go into the city seule (alone). First I took the bus. Since I don't have any of the passes yet, I tried my best to say I need a ticket. But out of nervousness I said billet instead of ticket. The bus driver definitely could tell I wasn't a local since he smiled and pronounced the word correctly. Then, I didn't know what to do because he said 1,60 for the ticket, and I had 2,40. Online it said we needed exact change, so I was a little confused if I could actually get on the bus or not.

Then, I got to the metro (Gare de Vennissaux) and tried to by a ticket for that through the automatic billeterie ( looks like an ATM). I tried my american bank card a few times, tried to see if the paper money would fit into what seemed to be a slot, and then sighed. I went out to the bus stop, asked two French-Africans for help and voila! So now I know, A) American cards don't work here if you want to buy something directly B) You need coins or un chargeable metro pass to buy more tickets. Phew!

Another great thing, I bought a phone. With the help of those same friendly French (one claimed his name was Obama like our president....not so sure if he was lying or not), I was able to buy a telephone and here we are.

Still apartmentless, bankless, and struggling with my french, but hey I'm alive and currently living with an awesome family :)

As for that awesome family, Veronique made an awesome dinner tonight. It was my first time eating duck and I must say it was delicious (desolee Donald et Daffy).  I also met one of their other sons, Sebastien, and his pregnant wife who is absolutely charming.

Otherwise, I've decided to write down any words I don't know so I can remember them, starting with grimper (which I still cannot pronounce properly).

And to give you a look at the weather, here are a couple new photos that I haven't posted on Facebook. The first, gives you a great idea at the daily scene outside my bedroom window. The second was taken right after a thunderstorm along the Rhone! A bientot (Later gators)

Lyon, Home of the Lion

Well good afternoon to you all (It's 6 pm here).

So, apparently I have to watch what I say because Baptiste understands English and told his Mom that I thought our first encounter was funny. She then told all her friends at the dinner party last night.

So, I must tell you that Marc (the principal) is a big fan of Creedence Clear Water (Kreedenz Klear Water in Franglais). He turned it on and just started dancing and then his wife came in dancing and singing also. I thought to myself, "Not only are these French so passionate in the things they do, they always seem to be so happy. I need to get myself into some more hobbies pronto." ** And he actually just picked up his guitar as I type and is currently playing "Have You Ever Seen The Rain."

Last night, they took me to a traditional( Baptiste says it's not traditional at all actually French people don't normally do that)  dinner party, well traditional minus the singing. This was a group of chorale singers, so after a few drinks, they all started singing rounds, ancient choral songs, and the like. It was marvelous, minus the fact that I was the only one who wasn't singing and I wish I could sing like the rest of them.

Then today, Baptiste took me around Lyon. We went around to the two cathedrals, the roman theaters, and then walked up and down hills in between. I must say this place is pretty hip for how old it really is. The tram that we took was just installed two years ago and was so pretty for public transportation. I hope to get to know the city fast;  it doesn't seem as big as it does on the map.

Oh and I must tell you, I have my own "gris gris" (comme "chachun cherche son chat"). Their cat is actually named "mimi." He slept with me the first two nights and follows me all over the house. Voila!

Safe In Lyon

I made it safely to Lyon! Of course I had to go through a few dilemmas along the way but everything is fine and dandy now.

After I managed to get a new boarding pass, the loudspeaker announced that our plane was going to be a half hour late. That didn't really phase me, but what did was the boarding system. You scan your ticket, walk down 4 flights of steps, and then arrive at a bus. The bus then drives you around the airport to your plane. Now, I wasn't really scared then, but thinking back on it, if the bus were to have run out of gas, if it were night time, or maybe even if there was a terrorist who took over the bus, I would have absolutely no idea where the hell I was (let alone what anyone was saying). The cool thing about the plane ride was that you walk up the steps to get onto the plane as if you were a celebrity (among 40 others of course).

We take off (my ears already hurting from not being able to pop the first time despite my excessive usage of gum) and the Asian guy next to me immediately passes out...and before I turn my head back around, so do I. We landed and I didn't even wake up until the stewardess announced that we needed to keep our seat belts on until we had come to a complete stop. So, 5 hours out of 8 asleep= not bad, not bad at all.

I did not feel overly anxious, scared, or excited when I got off of  the second plane. I go down to retrieve my luggage and wait and wait and wait. I look at the TV which tells me there "Attention. Strike in effect today." Ah, so that's why there is literally no one working in the airport. Then, what do I see? Oh you know my suitcase fully unzipped with my things halfway out of the suitcase. My response: Ah merde( oh shit). Damn security decided to check my things (which were so neatly packed to make the weight limit).

They unwrapped my gifts for the family. Boy was I pissed. I made them look beautiful with a bow and all.   I wrapped it all up, cursed one last time under my breath, blew my snotty nose, and walked out into the the next room where I was greeted by 6 of the teachers at my school and the principal, all smiling and joking.

I instantly felt relieved. The one "enseignant" was holding a sign that read "Yes We Kate." I was quickly told that he is the jokester of the group. We went around giving the typical two cheek bisous (kiss) and exchanging names. From there we went to find Principal Marc's car. We wandered and wandered and almost got hit by a car, a bus, and a tramcar, because there were no sidewalks. And then of course, we all were preoccupied with one wing of the airport that looks like a) "un oiseau" = a bird b) star trek c) "zomething out ov men in black."

We finally get to his car, and voila, he forgot that one of the other teachers has the parking ticket. We call her, she runs over to our parking lot and we all laugh. Then of course, the principal tried to go out the entrance at which all of us laughed and joked. At that point I smiled to myself and thought this is going to be a fun year if this is my group of co-workers and they're already so much fun.

From there, we went to a local brewery, Ninkasi for drinks. They all immediately asked what my favorite sports were, what I listened to, etc and we started a conversation on Zumba (not my favorite sport but we talked about gyms and it came to that). One of the girls had gone before and was trying to explain what it was to the other two and I helped  them decide to go the following week (or so I think).

After that, I went back to my temporary living quarters where I met the Principal's son (Baptiste) who is going back to school Monday, their dog (swan), and cat (I forget his name...oops). I was given the typical house tour and then left to email ma famille that I arrived safe and sound.

I also met the Principal's wife (who is a pediatrician) and who was quite charming too. She made saucisson and ended up burning it because I decided to give them their gifts at the same time. She asked if my mom was a good cook, to which I said yes a very good one. Her response, "Well I must change quickly, you see I'm no cook. I burn things."

They are all very welcoming and understanding and helpful. I'm very grateful and can't wait to see what happens next.

Bisous

From Frankfurt

Just a jump, hop, and skip over the great big pond...

When Mom called me to say it was starting to get cloudy I thought nothing of it, until we were waiting in line to depart with oh you know 15 other planes waiting ahead of us for the thunderstorm clouds to pass on by. Despite those extra 40 minutes, we still managed to make it on time.

My Dad also told me that Frankfurt Airport was huge. Again, I took it into consideration, but figured I could manage. When your carrying 2 twenty pound carry on bags waiting in line for security, it's a different story. The only other time I've been in a line that long and sweated that much was waiting for the rollercoaster in King's Dominion in the midst of a heat wave. Then, when I finally made it to the front of the line (and remembered to take my lap top AND belt out/off unlike in Philly), my body scan fails. In comparison to the USA security, they don't tell you to take off your shoes (which ended up being the thing that made the scanner go off) and they give you a full on pat down that you might have enjoyed if it weren't from the same sex. Nonetheless, I made it through and then came the fun part.

We all know majority of Americans are overweight and now I know exactly why! We have escalators, elevators, and the moving sidewalks (which I admit I would love to have in my future house just for mere ridiculous décor). Here in Frankfurt, you use steps. Five flights of steps upstairs, one mile to the gate and then you have to do the typical Katie and realize you left your boarding pass in Security (I want to believe the lady patting me down took it, but it definitely wasn't in my passport in my bag when I went to open it at the bathroom). Luckily, a lovely group of Washingtonians noticed my sweaty forehead, pale face, and omgwhatthehellamigoingtodo/wherethehelldidmyboardingpassgo look and offered to watch my bags. I left my book bag and took a chance by asking one of the other Lufthansa check-in assistants what to do. She barely looked at my passport, continued to joke to her co-worker in German, and merely handed me a new pass no questions ask. This is when I realized A) I really need to learn German so I know what they're laughing about B) I like some Americans.

I immediately thanked the Washingtonians, chatted them up for a while (they're on their way to Greece for a 2 week vacation), and headed off to find a snack.

Now, let me say, I've officially had a German “Bretzel,” but as healthy as they taste, Philly wins this war hands down, no questions asked.

On that note, Marissa you owe me big time sista. Not only am I so sick I can't hear anything (even if I don't understand the language, at least I could have pretended to evesdrop), I also have Rudolph Red Nose and I'm not even there yet! I've gone through all my tissues and I feel like someone hit me in the face with a shovel. And alas, I find Orange Juice at a vendor, and guess how much it costs? Guess riss! Freaking 4 euros for a damn 3 ounces. That mean's I'd spend like $25 if I wanted to buy an actually serving size. And not only that, it's not yummy Minute Maid. No no, it's pulp infested OJ. So thanks, all the people around me glare at me for my germs and all I thought on the first plane was, “God, I can't wait to use my damn netty pot.” Hear that riss? (end rant).

Anyways, that's all folks. Talk to you when I land in Lyon.

Bises/Kisses.

Still Feels Like Summer

   Less than a week now and it's still not hitting me quite like I thought it would. Maybe I'm just trying to put it all off until the last minute so I have my meltdown on the plane and need them to release the gas masks just for me. I've begun saying my see ya soon's to family and friends and all I keep thinking is how I feel like I'm just going back to JMU. I walked across that stage, received my diploma in the mail, yet it still doesn't feel real that my college chapter of life is over and the next is about to begin.
  
   Anywho enough of that sappy crap and onto the exciting life I lead. So, I've decided it's time to start packing. And start is what I did (finish I did not). After rolling 2 space bags of clothing I was absolutely exhausted. To reward myself for the workout I just endured, I decided to eat a cookie and watch the premiere of Always Sunny.

Maybe I should start reviewing my french words soon.

"Hey You Guys!"

Welcome aboard to my dream come true.
Countdown. 10 days.
Emotions. So pumped I peed my pants twice already.
(How do you say that in French? No freaking clue)

In between my awful teaching schedule of 15 hours a week, I have to keep myself busy somehow.  While wine tasting will take up 98.7% of my free time, let's be honest,  I have to reassure my family that I'm still alive. So, the blog begins.

Stroll with me the next 9 months :)